HSE boss: 'cost recovery not a money making exercise'
1 min read
HSE chair Judith Hackitt has backed proposals to charge regulatory costs to manufacturers who fall below minimum safety standards.
In an exclusive interview with WM, Hackitt refuted claims the cost recovery proposals could become a money making excercise.
She said: "It is not a fine. It's not a penalty. It's us recovering the costs of the work we put in to get that business to comply with the law"
Hackitt added: "Those who are trying to do the right thing should get our help and support. Those who are wittingly or unwittingly flouting the law are the ones who we think should cease to have a competitive advantage."
Under cost recovery, businesses face fees where the regulator uncovers 'material breaches' of health and safety law.
Planned costs range from £750 for an inspection which results in a letter to £10,000 plus for cases that spark full investigations.
The move comes as the HSE faces budget cuts of up to 35% by 2015 under the spending review.
Cost Recovery proposals will be under consultation until 14 October with the system due to launch next April.
Hackitt said: "I'm very much aware of the risk of people seeing this as the speed camera equivalent for HSE. That's not the intention."
Read the full interview with Judith Hackitt in WM's August issue.
To view the Cost Recovery proposals in full click the link below
